wfn.org | ABCUSA: Media Advisory--Biennial Meeting

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

MEDIA ADVISORY: 
2003 Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches USA
June 27-30 / Richmond Coliseum and Convention Center, Richmond, Va.

Following is a news release containing information pertaining to the
Biennial Meeting of American Baptist Churches USA to be held next month in
Richmond, Va.  Detailed information on Biennial Meeting program,
participants and Statements of Concern texts--as well as comprehensive
information on American Baptist Churches USA identity, mission emphases and
organization--is available on www.abc-usa.org.	

We invite news media to cover this major gathering, and will be happy to
answer questions, secure media passes, arrange interviews and assist in any
other way.  Please contact me in writing or through e-mail before June 10 to
request media passes; we will mail them to you or, if you prefer, hold them
at the Convention Center until you or your staff representative arrives.  

The media/press office onsite will be in Room E11A of the Convention Center.
We will have a media/press section designated at the evening plenary
sessions.  We expect our operations will be up and running by Friday
afternoon, June 27. 

Some interviews and/or feature coverage that you may be interested in:

* The Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, general secretary of American Baptist Churches
USA

* Mr. David Hunt, president of American Baptist Churches USA, and executive
director of the Columbia River Channel Coalition in Oregon

* Dr. John A. Sundquist, executive director of International Ministries, who
is retiring this year after 15 years of leadership

* spokespersons for NEW LIFE 2010, a major denominational emphasis involving
church planting, evangelism and revitalization of existing ministries, and
Go Global, a 10-year strategic plan that is guiding the denomination's
international mission philosophy and action

* spokespersons from the American Baptist Historical Society, which is
celebrating its 150th anniversary this year

* American Baptist home and overseas missionaries, representing a wide range
of mission areas and ministries

I will be sending out follow-up information and story suggestions in several
weeks. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time before the meeting
to secure additional information or to request arrangements for other
interviews or feature coverage.

Rich Schramm 
Deputy General Secretary for Communication
American Baptist Churches USA
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

May 8, 2003

AMERICAN BAPTIST BIENNIAL MEETING TO FOCUS ON 'CENTERED IN CHRIST'

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 5/8/03)--The 2003 Biennial
Meeting of American Baptist Churches USA this June 27-30 in Richmond, Va.,
will focus on a theme of "Centered in Christ" (based on Colossians 1:15-20),
lifting up the vision statement of American Baptist Churches USA General
Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley.

Subthemes for each day will be: "An Inviting People" (Friday), "A Witnessing
People" (Saturday), "A Growing People" (Sunday) and "A Worshipping People"
(Monday).
	
Major worship and plenary elements include a service of installation for
General Secretary Medley, which will open the meeting on Friday, June 27.
Preaching that night will be the Rev. Dr. Joan Parrott, vice president of
the Children's Defense Fund and former American Baptist Churches USA deputy
general secretary for Cooperative Christianity.  The Shokei Girls' Choir
from Japan will be among the participants. 

Former National Football League player Steve Fitzhugh, founder/director of
the youth-oriented motivational organization PowerMoves, will address
participants Saturday, June 28.  A Sunday morning worship and communion
service will be led by Medley and evening worship will feature the Rev. Dr.
James Carrington, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda,
Calif., and a choir from that church.  Closing worship on Monday, June 30,
will feature the Rev. Yamina Apolinaris, former executive minister of the
American Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico, and well-known Christian musician
Ken Medema.  A special Festival of New Life will be held prior to the Monday
worship gathering.

Thirty-six Bible sessions over three days will be led by American Baptist
pastors, educators and other leaders.  Multiple on-site and off-site
afternoon mission experiences also are scheduled.  Other components of the
gatherings include the election of denominational officers and members of
the Statements of Concern Committee for the 2003-2004 biennium and
discussion and action on Statements of Concern (including "The Global Impact
of AIDS," "Celebrating Clergy/Congregational Covenants," Christ-Centered
Parenting/Mentoring," and "How Shall American Baptists Respond to Global
Terrorism?")

Hosting the Biennial Meeting will be the American Baptist Churches of the
South, one of 34 regions within American Baptist Churches USA, which
includes approximately 275 churches and 107,000 resident members throughout
13 states.  The 2003 Biennial Meeting will be the first such American
Baptist gathering in the South.  Once again, regional youth representatives
will be participating in all parts of the gathering. 

The committee is chaired by James Foster of Ft. Washington, Md.  Other
members include: Dr. Loris Coletta, Aptos, Calif.; Jessica Echard, Marietta,
Ohio; the Rev. Priscilla Eppinger, Lamoni, Ia.; Anatalys Gonzalez-Ortiz,
Yauco, P.R.; the Rev. Paul Hayes, Suffield, Conn.; Manuel Hernandez,
Portage, Ind.; the Rev. Randolph Palada, Gilbertsville, N.Y.; the Rev. Hank
Pedersen, Warwick, R.I.; Dr. Mary Robinson, Waterloo, Ia.; the Rev. Kevin
Rose, Indianapolis, Ind.; and Ella Washington, Brown Deer, Wis.  Ex-officio
members include Dr. Walter L. Parrish II, ABC of the South executive
minister, Baltimore, Md.; David Hunt, American Baptist Churches USA
president, Milwaukie, Oreg.; Yosh Nakagawa, American Baptist Churches USA
vice president, Mercer Island, Wash.; and the Rev. A. Roy Medley, American
Baptist Churches USA general secretary, Valley Forge, Pa.

Instrumental in the planning are the Rev. Barry T. Young, pastor of Mosby
Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond and faculty member at the Samuel DeWitt
Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and Dr. Delores
Pretlow, associate superintendent of the Richmond City School District, who
are serving as co-chairpersons of the Local Arrangements Committee.  Also
assisting the committee in its work are David L. Greenfield, production
director, Bloomington, Ill.; Karen Shipp, music consultant, Decatur, Ga.;
and a Staff Advisory Group chaired by Biennial Meeting Coordinator Richard
Schramm.	      

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